The boys are fasting to-day. It's their
love offering to those we've left at home--"
Jennie kissed him.
"It's beautiful of you and your men, boy. Give my love to them all and
tell them I'm proud to be their countrywoman--"
"And they're proud of their country and their General, too--maybe you
wouldn't believe it--but every regiment in Lee's army has reenlisted for
the war."
She seized Billy's hand.
"Come with me--I want you to see the President and tell him what your
regiment has done. It'll help him."
As they approached the White House a long, piercing scream came through
the open windows.
"What on earth?" Jennie exclaimed.
"An accident of some kind," the boy answered, seizing her arm and
hurrying forward. Every window and door of the big lonely house set
apart on its hill swung wide open, the lights streaming through them,
the wind blowing the curtains through the windows. The lights blazed
even in the third story.
Mrs. Burton Harrison, the wife of the President's Secretary, met them at
the door, her eyes red with weeping.
She pressed Jennie's hand.
"Little Joe has been killed--"
"Mrs. Davis' beautiful boy--impossible!"
"He climbed over the bannisters and fell to the brick pavement and died
a few minutes after his mother reached his side--"
The girl could make no answer.
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